Philippe Clement Addresses Media on Player Adaptation, Fitness Updates, and Kilmarnock Match

Philippe Clement, manager of Rangers, addressed the media in advance of his team’s Scottish Premiership fixture against Kilmarnock scheduled for Wednesday. The following details highlight the main points from his press conference. Clement cited the development of Celtic’s German winger, Nicolas Kuhn, over the last year as evidence that his own squad members require a period to adjust to the Scottish football environment and should not face premature judgment. The Belgian manager further recalled that his counterpart at Parkhead had mentioned over the weekend being booed following a victory against Ross County a year prior. Twelve months later, Celtic scored five goals against the same opponent within the initial 40 minutes. Clement’s assertion was that patience ultimately yields rewards. He expressed a desire for similar patience from the board and supporters at Ibrox, stating his confidence that, with such backing, he can deliver the success they desire. Clement disclosed that there are no new injury worries leading up to Wednesday’s fixture. He anticipates learning within the subsequent 24 hours if Dujon Sterling will have recovered from his nerve problem sufficiently to be included in the squad. He added that Rabbi Matondo and Oscar Cortes are nearing availability for complete training sessions and competitive games. Clement expressed his desire for more “sexy wins and sexy football” at Ibrox. He called for an increase in created opportunities, goals scored, and, critically, more clinical finishing. He stated, “We have to score more and be more lethal in the final third.” Clement dismissed the suggestion that the upcoming match presents an opportunity to narrow the gap with Aberdeen, who are hosting Celtic on Wednesday. He contended that the focus is “not about closing down, it’s about taking the points ourselves and not throwing away points like we did against Dundee United.” Clement highlighted that he has no control over the points accumulated by other teams, and therefore, he does not allow it to be a concern. The manager at Ibrox expressed caution that Derek McInnes’ team is likely to adopt a deep defensive posture and attempt to exploit counter-attacks against Rangers, indicating that his squad must be prepared for a challenging encounter.